Dataset Information

Effectiveness of non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine combined with conventional therapy in treating fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder characterized by generalized pain, which is also known as "muscular rheumatism" in Chinese medicine. We undertook this systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with conventional therapy on pain, health status, depression, and the quality of life of fibromyalgia patients.

Methods

Studies were retrieved from five electronic databases (PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science) with publication date up to August 2022. We included randomized controlled trials examining the effects of a combination of non-pharmacological TCM and conventional therapy on pain intensity, health status, depression, and quality of life.

Results

Four randomized controlled trials with 384 fibromyalgia patients met the inclusion criteria. Results of the meta-analysis showed that non-pharmacological TCM combined with conventional therapy exerted significant positive effects on alleviating pain at the post-intervention time point than conventional therapy only (visual analog scale WMD₁ = -1.410, P < 0.01; pressure pain threshold WMD₂ = 0.830, P < 0.001, respectively). Significant differences in pain assessment were also observed between the two groups after a long-term follow-up (12 months) (WMD₁ = -1.040 and WMD₂= 0.380, all P < 0.05). The combination therapy group also showed a greater reduction in fibromyalgia impact questionnaire than the control group after a long-term follow-up (WMD = -6.690, P < 0.05). Depression and pain-related quality of life showed no difference between groups (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Non-pharmacological TCM combined with conventional therapy may be more effective in alleviating pain and improving health status than conventional therapy only. However, it remains some concerns over the safety and clinic application.

Systematic review registration

Identifier: CRD42022352991.

SUBMITTER: Cai L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10267337 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Effectiveness of non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine combined with conventional therapy in treating fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cai Lili L Chen Zhengquan Z Liang Juping J Song Yuanyuan Y Yu Hong H Zhu Jiaye J Wu Qikai Q Zhou Xuan X Du Qing Q

Frontiers in neuroscience 20230601

<h4>Objective</h4>Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder characterized by generalized pain, which is also known as "muscular rheumatism" in Chinese medicine. We undertook this systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with conventional therapy on pain, health status, depression, and the quality of life of fibromyalgia patients.<h4>Methods</h4>Studies were retrieved from five electronic databases (PubMed, the Cum ...[more]

PMID: 37325034

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Dataset Information

Effectiveness of non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine combined with conventional therapy in treating fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Systematic review registration

Publications

Effectiveness of non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine combined with conventional therapy in treating fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Similar Datasets

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